Device for processing card-shaped information carriers, such as bank cards, credit cards, identification cards, etc.

Abstract

A device for processing card-shaped information carriers has at least one track, at least one processing station with at least one movable carrier with a plurality of holding elements, at least one delivery element located between the track and the movable carrier, so that the cards are taken by a first delivery element from the path and transferred on the holding elements of the carrier, and then are taken by a second delivery element from the holding elements of the carrier and transferred onto the path, wherein each of the delivery elements has a wheel drivingly rotatable in a rotary direction and provided on its outer periphery with a plurality of holders which are spaced from one another in a peripheral direction for receiving, holding and delivering the cards.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:  
     
       1. A device for processing card-shaped information carriers, comprising at least one track formed as a transportation track for transportation of cards; at least one processing station located in a region of said track and having at least one movable carrier with a plurality of holding elements operative for engaging and holding a corresponding card during a movement phase of said carrier with processing performed during this time and for delivery a corresponding card after the processing; at least one delivery element selected from the group consisting of a first delivery element, a second delivery element and both, said at least one delivery element being located between said track and said movable carrier, so that cards are taken by said first delivery element from said track and transferred on said holding elements of said carrier, and said cards are taken by said second delivery element from said holding elements of said carrier and transferred onto said track, each of said delivery elements having a wheel which is drivingly rotatable in a rotary direction and has on its outer periphery a plurality of holders which are spaced from one another in a rotary direction for receiving, holding and delivering the cards, wherein said holders have guiding bodies which are radially movable relative to a corresponding one of said wheels, and wherein each of said wheels has a cam track which is arranged at least partially off center and engages with a corresponding cam of a corresponding one of said guiding bodies. 
     
     
       2. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holders of each of said wheels are yieldable and each have a receiving member. 
     
     
       3. A device as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said revolving members of said holders are adjustable by elastic deformation. 
     
     
       4. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holders of a corresponding one of said wheels communicate with a source selected from the group consisting of a negative pressure source and a positive pressure source and are controlled so that said holders take the cards by suction from said track and from said holding elements of said carrier, hold them during rotation of the corresponding wheel, and deliver the cards after removal of suction onto the holding elements of the carrier end onto the track. 
     
     
       5. A device as defined in  claim 4 , wherein an axis of said first wheel which is located before, as considered in a forward transporting direction of said track, has a same distance from an axis of said disk as an axis of said second wheel which is located after said axis of said disk. 
     
     
       6. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holders of a respective one of said wheels are held radially movably relative to en axis of said wheel. 
     
     
       7. A device as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said holders of a corresponding one of said wheels being movable in a controlled fashion relative to said wheel in a radial direction so that a rotary angular distance of said holders from one another reduces during a rotation of said wheel over one rotary angular region and increases during a rotation of said wheel over another rotary angular region. 
     
     
       8. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a rotary angular distance of said holders of a corresponding one of said wheels in a region of said track corresponds to a distance between track drivers for the cards from one another and in a region of maid carrier corresponds to a distance of said holding elements from one another. 
     
     
       9. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holders have guiding bodies and carry an element selected from the group consisting of a driver and a receiving element. 
     
     
       10. A device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said guiding bodies are formed as carriages, while said holders have receiving elements formed as suction cups. 
     
     
       11. A device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said holders with said receiving elements are arranged in form of a star ground an axis of a corresponding one of said wheels. 
     
     
       12. A device as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said holders with said receiving elements are radially movable controlled by cam tracks of a corresponding one of said wheels and by corresponding cams being in engagement with said cam tracks. 
     
     
       13. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said cam track is formed as a groove, while said cam is formed as a roller. 
     
     
       14. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a corresponding one of said wheels is arranged in a position selected from the group consisting of under said carrier and laterally near said carrier. 
     
     
       15. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier has at least one disk which is driven in a rotary direction around an axis which is oriented in an orientation selected from the group consisting of transversely to a course of said track and above said track and laterally near said track. 
     
     
       16. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said holding elements of said at least one disk have receiving surfaces with at least one abutment which is opposite to the rotary direction of said at least one disk, said receiving surfaces with said at least one abutment being arranged at substantially equal rotary angular distances from one another on an outer periphery of said at least one disk. 
     
     
       17. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said wheels substantially fill a region between said disk and said track with a corresponding operative diameter. 
     
     
       18. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said wheels rotates opposite to a direction of rotation of said disk. 
     
     
       19. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said wheels is arranged substantially in a same plane as said disk. 
     
     
       20. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said first wheel when considered in a forward transporting direction of said track is located before a center of said disk, while said second wheel is arranged alter said center of said disk. 
     
     
       21. A device as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said track and said wheels are arranged so that the cards are supplied continuously by said track, removed by said first wheel from said track, transported by a rotation of said wheel toward said disk, and during rotation of said disk are delivered onto said disk. 
     
     
       22. A device as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said second wheel removes the cards continuously from said disk, and during rotation of said second wheel transports the cards toward said track and deliver the cards onto said track. 
     
     
       23. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holding elements of said carrier communicate with and are controlled by a source selected from the group consisting of a negative pressure source and an overpressure source, so that the cards are taken by suction from the corresponding one of said holders of said first wheel, held during rotation of said disk, and after this with at least lifting of suction are delivered to said second wheel. 
     
     
       24. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said wheels rotates in a rotary direction which corresponds to a forward transporting direction of said track. 
     
     
       25. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier and at least one of said wheels rotate continuously with a same speed. 
     
     
       26. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second delivery element is formed in correspondence with said first delivery element. 
     
     
       27. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wheel of said second delivery element with its holders has a same wheel diameter and/or effector diameter as said wheel of said first delivery element with its holders. 
     
     
       28. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wheel of said second delivery element rotates in a same rotary direction as said wheel of said first delivery element. 
     
     
       29. A device as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said wheels of said delivery elements have axes which extend at identical distances from said track and above said track. 
     
     
       30. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wheels of said delivery elements have axes which, with respect to a diameter of said carrier, are arranged transversely to said track and symmetrically. 
     
     
       31. A device as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said wheels of said delivery elements are arranged with said axes substantially perpendicularly to said track. 
     
     
       32. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holder of said first wheel has a receiving member on a guiding body which during rotation of said first wheel removes a card correspondingly one after the other substantially parallel to a course of said track from said track, holds the card, and during rotation of said first wheel guide the card substantially in a tangential orientation with respect to the holding elements of said carrier formed as a disk to said holding elements and then deliver said card onto the holding elements. 
     
     
       33. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said holders of said second wheel has a receiving member on said guiding bodies wherein during rotation of said second wheel, said receiving member removes a card correspondingly one after the other substantially in a tangential orientation with respect to said holding elements of said carrier formed as a disk from respective one of said holding elements, holds the card, and by turning of said second wheel, guide the card onto said track and deliver the card substantially parallel to a course of the track onto the track. 
     
     
       34. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said carrier is formed as a disk and has twenty one holding elements. 
     
     
       35. A device as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said wheel of said first delivery element and said wheel of said second delivery element have each six holders. 
     
     
       36. A device for processing card-shaped information carriers, comprising at least one track formed as a transportation track for transportation of cards; at least one processing station located in a region of said track and having at least one movable carder with a plurality of holding elements operative for engaging and holding a corresponding card during a movement phase of said carrier with processing performed during this time and for delivery a corresponding card after the processing; at least one delivery element selected from the group consisting of a first delivery element, a second delivery element and both, said at least one delivery element being located between said track and said movable carder, so that cards are taken by said first delivery element from said track and transferred on said holding elements of said carrier, and said cards are taken by said second delivery element from said holding elements of said carrier and transferred onto said track, each of said delivery elements having a wheel which is drivingly rotatable in a rotary direction and has on its outer periphery a plurality of holders which are spaced from one another in a rotary direction for receiving, holding and delivering the cards, wherein said holders have guiding bodies which are radially movable relative to a corresponding one of said wheels, wherein said guiding bodies carry an element selected from the group consisting of a driver and a receiving element, wherein said holders with said receiving elements are radially movable controlled by cam tracks of a corresponding one of said wheels and by corresponding cams being in engagement with said cam tracks. 
     
     
       37. A device for processing card-shaped information carriers, comprising at least one track formed as a transportation track for transportation of cards; at least one processing station located in a region of said track and having at least one movable carrier with a plurality of holding elements operative for engaging and holding a corresponding card during a movement phase of said carder with processing performed during this time and for delivery a corresponding card after the processing; at least one delivery element selected from the group consisting of a first delivery element, a second delivery element and both, said at least one delivery element being located between said track and said movable carrier, so that cards are taken by said first delivery element from said back and transferred on said holding elements of said carrier, and said cards are taken by said second delivery element from said holding elements of said carrier and transferred onto said track, each of said delivery elements having a wheel which is drivingly rotatable in a rotary direction and has on its outer periphery a plurality of holders which are spaced from one another in a rotary direction for receiving, holding and delivering the cards, wherein said holders have guiding bodies which are radially movable relative to a corresponding one of said wheels, wherein each of said wheels has a cam track which is arranged at least partially off center and engages with a corresponding cam of a corresponding one of said guiding bodies, and wherein said cam track is formed as a groove, while said cam is formed as a roller.